Saturday, August 7, 2010 - Things that I like - I - Baskets

I I like baskets very much. All of them have their utility and beauty. Besides, they evoke those times when life was slower, when baskets were born from skillfull hands weaving rattan and had a labor use. I also want to live slowly, unhurriedly.


To bring plants inside...


And more plants...


To keep business cards...


To keep unfinished embroideries. This one is about a view from the Aveiro river.


To show dried flowers arrangements... This one was made by my friend L., who has some fairy hands. But the basket was bought in Santa Iria's Fair when I was... maybe 5? I'm not sure; I just remember that I was a little girl and that I was with my mother. It was a chilly October day, she took me by her hand and I paid attention to all those miniatures appropriate to my size. It still exists. I just don't know what happened to the small white demijohn that was given to me by that time. It was lost in the games of time...


To keep the clothespins. It was my mother-in-law who gave it to me, because she knew that I love these things.


To keep the onions...


As a fruit bowl...


To keep the table cloths. This one was part of a Christmas basket offered by my friend S. and family. It contained products of best quality, offered with the best love. I still am touched when I remind that special moment because this basket also contained many messages from God...


TTo keep the eggs inside... You will be amazed now: it was me who made this basket! 11 years ago, when I worked in the town hall of Tomar, participating in an international crafters exchange. It was really wonderful.


To keep the groceries in the kitchen cupboard.


To keep several items in my son's bed-room... The opened basket keeps his father's childhood traditional games.


To keep his bed linen. This basket was my grand-father's suitcase, who was a sailor. During several years I remember that I used to imagine how it would be to carry such a suitcase, to travel with it and not to loose or spoil anything inside it and still resist until today.


To keep the toilet paper in the bathroom...


And to keep my son's hygiene products. This basket was also offered by my mother-in-law, when my son was still in my belly, but it was bought with this purpose.

I still have more baskets. They have less aesthetic purposes now but they wait for glorious days.